MOVIE REVIEW: "Nightcrawler" (2014)

Synopsis: Seeking to overcome the difficulties of getting a formal job, young Louis Bloom decides to enter the bustling underworld of independent Los Angeles criminal journalism. The formula is to chase after shocking crimes and accidents, record everything and sell the story to interested vehicles.

Every citizen with a good judgment knows that the spectacularization imposed by newspapers, TV news and digital media has been a sad reality for many years. So, starting from the idea behind this film, it is commendable the effort it makes to try to warn the world about how society has been sick, and even if it loses its identity during its development, the premise is strong and intriguing.

IMDb

During its desperate attempt to cause maximum exposure involving a wild pursuit of sensational news, the script tries at all costs to focus on the reasons that, in a way, typify acts of violence as a spectacle that needs to be sold - preferably at the prime time of TV - as quickly as possible for viewers who strangely seem to be increasingly eager for such content.

Digging a little deeper into its purpose, the narrative plunges into the underworld of the press and shows how some of its misdemeanors happen to have the "privilege" of getting a scoop. But... Suddenly, what would be an interesting experience, little by little, becomes an exaggerated attempt to create something wrongly impacting because although there are some shocking scenes scattered throughout the projection, they explore only the visual aspects of movie and leave much of the dramatic content behind (though not entirely excluded).

Newsday

On the other hand, there is a solid discussion about morals and ethics involving the sensationalist media within investigative journalism that is established through two distinct perspectives and those responsible for them are Rene Russo and Jack Gyllenhaal. Both are very good on the scene (especially Gyllenhaal) and build dangerously unscrupulous characters with a macabre bias that, despite being different from each other, are moving in the same direction: they lose control of themselves as they are increasingly motivated by money. , fame and power at the expense of others' misfortunes.

Surfing with the advantage of having many thoughtful dialogues (responsible for creating an efficient atmosphere of tension), the film can, at various times, recover a good deal of its breath... However, it cannot return to its origins and chooses to stay. on the more "hysterical" side of the approach by investing in more and more hype. Strangely enough, even though it's so exaggerated, the movie can still work and send a direct message to the audience.

Silver Screen Beat

At this point, it is worth noting that the manner in which scene editing is handled helps a lot because although there is too much information on the screen (this being the best of the technical aspects of the whole project), the scenes are well positioned and linked together as connectors that recognize and complement each other. Besides having a photograph that favors a very dense climate, the good soundtrack is inserted in the best moments of the plot.

An important part of this somewhat messy arrangement is the work of director Dan Gilroy, who can hold the reins of a script that seems to get out of hand with every new page. By rationally organizing ideas in a more humble narrative line, he retains in his film his most sober and realistic side (something more in keeping with the reality of facts as they are in the real world and which automatically ensures greater attention from the audience).

IndieWire

The leading thread of Nightcrawler is visible from the beginning, and by itself, this makes it a curious and to be watched movie (despite its mistakes) because it is surrounded by highly relevant issues and which at its end manages to peel off several rotten layers of a psychotic society that seems to be struggling to reach the top of what they consider - individually - to be their top prize.

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MOVIE URL:
https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/242582-nightcrawler?language=en-US

MY RATING: AA (7,5/10)